Conduit.



PATENTED JAN. 1, 1907. L. A. JONES. I

GONDUIT. APPLICATION FILED 001217. 1904.

waxi'ag.

Inve rotor: Louis with/asses:

A. Jone-s:

far/I e rinirnn STAT-ES (PATENT orrron.

LOUIS A. JONES, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSAL'YHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ClRCULAR LOOM'CO, OF CHELSEA, MASSAOHIL SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CQNDUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

To alt inherit-it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. JoNEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesez: and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conduits, of which the following isa specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a flexible conduit constructed to receive electric wires and formed of insulating material.

The object of the invention is further to provide a conduit which is not easily crushed and which will resist longitudinal displacement of the parts composing the same when electric wires are being inserted therein or being removed therefrom.

The object of this invention is, again, to provide a conduit which can be quickly and practically manufactured by machinery in order that the cost of the same. may be brought within reasonable limits.

The invention consists in a flexible conduit constructed as set forth in the following specification, and particularly'pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved conduit, partly broken away, to illustrate more clearly the construction of the same. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a development of a portion of the inner tube. Fig. i is a section similar to Fig. 2 of a smaller tube. ig. 5 is a development of a portion of the tube illustrated in Fig. 4:.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The conduit in its (lOlllfll-E ted form consists of an inner tube 5, a protective wrapping 6,

and an outer tube 7. Said inner tube is formed of flat strips of resilient and insulating material A, B, C, and D, preferably consisting of thin fiberboard, each being wound in the form of a right-hand helix. Interlaced with the strips A, B, O, and D are similar strips of fiat insulating material A, B, O, and D, wound to form left-hand helices and interlaced with the righthand helices formed by the strips A,'B, O, and D. Said strips A, B, O, and D and A, B, O, and D are preferably made of such a width and wound at such a pitch. that they cross each other at right angles, each of the strips A, B, C, and D passing alternately over and under the strips A, B, O,and D and forming as a whole a tube which is very flexible laterally and not easily crushed by outside rcssure. The object of crossing the strips A, C, and D at right angles to the strips A, B, C, and D is twofold: first, by thus crossing the strips it is easier to form the short bend 8, and, second, the tube when completed can only be very slightly elongated by a longitudinal pull imparted thereto.

The protective wrapping 6 preferably consists of a fiat strip of adhesive tape 10, wound in helical form about the periphery of the inner tube 5. The particular form or material of said protective wra ping 6'is immaterial so long as the same afiords a means for protecting the inner tube 5, so that the waterproofing composition and mica, which are subsequently applied to the conduit, may not penetrate to the interior of the tube through the interstices between the strips. The outer tube 7 is a tubular layer, preferablyof woven fabric, which serves to protect the innerlayers and which renders the conduit as a whole nonextensible, but which may be of knitted or braided material, provided that it is made non-extensible by the introduction of longitudinal threads therein or by a non-extensible element incorporated elsewhere in the conduit. The tape 10 is wound in the form of a helix around the tube 5, with each layer overlapping the layer adjacent thereto in order to more securely seal said inner tube.

, The construction of my improved. conduit by means of machinery is rendered practical and rapid by first forming the tube 5 upon a braiding-machine especially adapted for the purpose and with sufficient tension upon the different strips A A, B B, O O", and D D so that a sharp bend S, Fig. 2, may be obtained between. said strips, thus presenting upon the outer and inner surfaces of said tube a smooth surface, the smooth inner surface beingespecially desirable in devices of the character described in order that the electric wires as they are inserted in said tube may not catch upon the interior thereof. After a conduit has been formed as hereinbefore described-viz., of the inner. tube 5, protective wrapping 6, and woven covering 7the same is subjected to a process by means of which a waterproof and insulating compos1tion 18 applied thereto, and said tube is then run ICC through powdered mica to give it a sparkling and glistening appearance of a distinctive character. i

While I prefer to form the inner tube 5 of fiat'strips of insulating material, referably thin fiber-board, I do not wish to imit myself to such material.

, Thin metal strips, as well as strips of mate: rial of other descriptions, may be employed in the manner above described to form atube to inclose insulated wires and to protect them from injury by abrasion or violence It will be understood that the particular arran 'ement of the twoseries of the tube, beeau pre'sentedaga ed as described herein and I aims are within the scope of and when arran set forth in the o my invention.

fiat strips, as

descri ed and claimed, reduces liability of electric wirescatching upon the interior of the tube when aid wires are being inserted in e there is no abrupt shoulder inst/ Which the end-of the wire that is being inserted might catch. All

sisting of two series 0 35' edges of the'strips that might be presented to the end of-a wirethat is being inserted are'at such an angle (forty five degrees) to the path of niovement of the wire being inserted that theend of such wire will simply ride along said edge and not be stopped thereby. Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire by Lette s Patent to secure,- is- I 1;. A fiexible'conduit forelectric Wires conmaterial, each strip of one. series forming a right-hand helix, and

fiat strips of resilient each strip of the other v series forming a left-hand helix, the individual strips of one series being interlaced with the individual strips of the other series, all of the strips being approximately at an angle of forty-five degrees to the longitudinal dimension of the s ace within the conduit.

2. A flexi le conduit for electric wires consisting of two series of flat strips of resilient and insulating material, each strip of one series forming a right-hand helix, and each strip of the other series forming a left-hand helix, the individual stri s of one series being interlaced with the in ividual strips of the other series, all of the stri s being approximately at an angle of forty-iivcdcgrees to the longl tudinal dimension of the space within theconduit.

3. A flexible conduit for electric wires consisting of two series of fiat strips of resilient material, each strip of one series forming a right-hand helix, and each'strip of the other series forming a left-hand helix, the individual strips of one series being interlaced with the individual strips of the other series, combined with an element rendering the'conduit as a Whole non-extensible, all of thestrips being approximately at an angle of forty-five degrees to the longitudinal dimension of the space within the conduit.

In testimony whereof I have ,hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS A. JONES.

Witnesses: 1

CHARLES S. GoonINe,

ANNIE J. DAILEY. 

